AN: 10/25/24 - I decided to take it easy this week in preparation for NaNo, so this is a pretty short, easy to write flashback chapter. This, along with any other special episodes I'll write in the future, won't ever be required reading, but they'll offer some unique insight into the characters and give you some new mysteries to speculate on.

"Have you seen Fabian anywhere?" Iris asked. Her voice was nearly getting sore from asking that question to so many people at this point. "This damned tower is way too big for its own good!" she grumbled to herself.

The Ariados librarian, an elderly gentlewoman whose name Iris couldn't quite recall, chuckled lightly. "I'm afraid I'm sworn to secrecy on that front," she said.

"Cut the crap, I'm begging you," Iris groaned. "I've been sticking my neck into every tiny little alcove in this entire Arceus-forsaken building for three days. Just tell me where he is. Official Guildmaster order."

The Ariados rhythmically tapped a leg against her desk. "I may have some idea of the young Master's location, or I may not. Perhaps my memory would be jogged if you pledged to increase funding to our library next-"

"Hey!" protested a youthful, squeaky voice from under the desk. "You promised you wouldn't tell no matter what!"

Iris facepalmed. "Why didn't I check the library sooner?" She couldn't complain too much, though. At least he was safe and sound with someone trustworthy the entire time.

Nodding respectfully, the Ariados lifted a pouting Totodile out from under her desk. "Your mother loves you, Fabian. There's no reason to hide from her."

Iris gave the Ariados an understanding look. Fabian had the highest authority out of anyone in the building besides his parents, so if he asked the Ariados to shelter him, she had no choice but to comply until told otherwise. It was probably a very stressful time for her, even if her calm demeanor didn't show it. "Thanks for looking after him," Iris said. "And I'm not making any promises, but I'll see what I can do about your funding."

The Ariados gave her a salute and scuttled away, leaving Iris alone with Fabian. "What have you been doing all this time?" Iris demanded.

"Reading."

"Okay, stupid question." Iris shook her head. "B-But, why? I've been looking all over the place! Do you know how worried I was?"

Fabian's eyes started to well up with tears. "I-I didn't want you to be mad at me," he mumbled.

Iris smiled and sat down besides Fabian, wrapping an arm around his tiny little body. "Aw, Fabian, I'm never mad at you! I might get a little annoyed every once in a while, but that doesn't mean I'll ever stop loving you. C'mon, talk to me. What's going on?"

"I-" Fabian sniffled. "I… I said the F-word at school! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was bad!"

Despite her best efforts, Iris couldn't stop herself from laughing, both at how seriously he was taking this and at the inherently hilarious concept of Fabian saying "fuck."

"Hey, why are you laughing?! It's not funny!"

Iris took a deep breath to compose herself. "No, you're right, I'm sorry. Why did you say it?"

Fabian started running his finger against the palm of his hand, a movement Iris recognized as a nervous tic. "I stubbed my toe and I got really mad, and I didn't wanna just say 'frick' because I was really mad! It hurt!"

Pinching her thigh to stop herself from laughing again, Iris lifted Fabian up and placed him on her lap. "Does it still hurt?"

Fabian shook his head. "No, this was three months ago."

She blinked. "It- huh? Three months? Why are you only worried now?"

"Cause I didn't get in trouble, so I didn't know it was wrong before, but then I heard that Freddy said it and got detention!"

"Just… don't worry about it, okay? I won't punish you either, just as long as you don't say it again."

For a while, Fabian sat there quietly, fidgeting even quicker than before. "Hey, Mom?" he asked. "Mrs. Thompson heard me say it. How come I didn't get in trouble?"

Iris grimaced, having no idea how to respond to that. "Because you're the Guildmaster's heir, and that makes you the most important person in the world!" was the answer she was meant to give, but the idea of saying that to Fabian never sat right with her. She couldn't even begin to imagine what that kind of weight would do to such a young kid's psyche. "It's… Well…"

"Is Mrs. Thompson scared of me?" he blurted. "I-Is everyone?"

Forcing a smile, Iris patted Fabian on the back. "Fabian, nobody's scared of you," she lied. "You're a nice kid! People just don't wanna hurt your feelings, that's all!"

"What happened to Devin?"

Iris's smile shattered. She was shocked that he still remembered that name. "Th-That kid who used to make fun of you? Why… uh, Why do you ask?"

Fabian's breathing quickened. "P-People were saying Dad made him disappear, a-and they thought I couldn't hear them, b-but they said it was my fault for snitching!"

Devin was executed at the age of five because he made fun of Fabian for the prominent stutter he had at the time. Iris didn't learn of this until after the fact, and she was kept in the dark on purpose because Dorinel knew she'd protest. "That's… just a rumor," Iris said. "I already told you, his family moved to the North. They're all fine."

"Promise?"

Those pleading eyes of Fabian's killed her. He needed this to be true just as much as Iris wished it was. He was too young to learn about what really happened. No kid should have to live with that. "Yeah, promise." She forced another smile. "I'm sorry. I'll tell you one day, I swear."

If Fabian's worries were eased, he didn't show it. "But if people think I got him killed, then they're gonna be scared of me!"

"I…" she trailed off, not expecting Fabian to make such a logical point. "I guess that might be true for some people, but like I said, you're a nice kid, and most people like you!"

Fabian crossed his arms. "But, if people get scared just because I'm around, then I'm gonna be a terrible Guildmaster! I wanna make people feel safe!"

Iris needed to steer this conversation away before Fabian made her talk about even more stuff he'd be better off not knowing. "Well, if you want people to feel safe around you, you'll have to get big and strong. You can start by taking your vitamins instead of dumping them into the trash can when you think I'm not looking."

Fabian groaned. "But they're gross!"

Iris gave Fabian a noogie, and lifted him up onto her shoulder. "How about, if you promise to take your vitamins, I'll buy you a smoothie."

At the mere mention of the word "smoothie," Fabian's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Sure, I promise!"

"I'll hold you to that!"

It wasn't fair that Fabian had to grow up this way. He deserved a normal childhood just as much as any other kid, and as much as Iris tried her best to give him one, she could only do so much. She couldn't protect him forever and she knew it, but despite that, she was always going to be in Fabian's corner, no matter what.